Nine hour school days and holidays cut under new plans being considered by Downing Street

Praised: Ofsted found colleges are succeeding because teachers know their students and are aware of their personal circumstances. (Picture: Chris Radburn/PA Wire) Chris Radburn/PA Wire

School days could be extended to nine hours and holidays cut drastically under new measures reportedly under consideration in Downing Street.

Children could see their school days transformed, with Conservatives considering running them from about 9am until 6pm, instead of the current hours of 8.30am to 3.10pm.

Under the radical plans, drawn up by David Cameron's former policy chief Paul Kirkby, holidays would also be slashed from 13 weeks to seven.

The measure would solve a wide range of issues, "transforming the lives of most households in the UK within two years," Mr Kirkby told the Sun.

The newspaper suggested the extended days could reduce youth crime, boost education standards and prepare children for the world of work by getting them used to full days.

It would also allow parents to return to full-time work.

The Sun said Tory ministers were examining the plans, which would apply to all children between the ages of five and 18, in time for the party's 2015 general election manifesto.

Mr Kirby told the newspaper: "This is a once in a generation reset that wouldn't detract from the current school freedom agenda. It also involves dramatically expanding what schools actually do - into sport and other activities.

"It would also go a long way to solving the crisis around childcare affordability, a major issue for many parents."

A Department for Education spokesman said: "We are already giving all schools the freedom to set the length of the school day and term. Many academies and free schools offer extended opening hours, and we want more schools to take up these freedoms.